Jet pump system

ABSTRACT

Obstructions in the ejector of a jet pump system are removed by backflushing the system using pressurized fluid from the system storage tank and venting the pressure line to ambience. Venting of the pressure line is accomplished through the use of a three way valve positioned in the pressure line which closes the line upstream of the valve and permits backflushing liquid to flow from the storage tank, through the pump, intake line, ejector, pressure line and valve.

United States Patent [56] Relerences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 721 lnventor Cecil F. Smith 106 South Main St., Lynn, Ind. 47355 25,981

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[21] Appl. No. [22] Filed Apr. 6, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 Attorney-Marechal, Biebel, French and Bugg [54] JET PUMP SYSTEM ABSTRACT: Obstructions in the ejector of a jet pump system are removed by backflushing the system using pressurized fluid from the system storage tank and venting the pressure line to ambience. Venting of the pressure line is accomplished through the use of a three way valve positioned in the pressure line which closes the line upstream of the valve and permits backflushing liquid to flow from the storage tank, through the pump, intake line, ejector, pressure line and vatw 0 4 n mm l wlys 7 l 4 0 F .l F n m m n u u .I w n n a n n r u u n m m 3 m m m m m l l me C c m 8U I 2 .l 5 5 rt 1!.

[50] Field of PATENTEI] 0m 5197:

INVENTOR CECIL F. SMITH 33 v BY A TTOR/VE Y5 1 JET PUMP SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pumping systems of the so called jet type have found widespread use, particularly in domestic water systems. In the jet type system a portion of the liquid withdrawn from the well is recirculated through an ejector mounted at the lower end of the intake line leading to the pump. The ejector contains a venturi-shaped constriction which has the effect of boosting the pressure at which water is delivered to a storage tank associated with the pump.

Unfortunately, the ejector of the jet pump, which is responsible for the advantages obtained with this type of system, is also a prime source of malfunction. Thus, loose gravel, sand or other sediment in a well may be drawn into the system where it will readily clog the venturi constriction in the ejector and either appreciably decrease the flow rate through the pump or stop flow entirely. Additionally, rust and salt deposits within the system may also break loose and lodge in the ejector.

When this occurs it is usually necessary to disconnect the pump from the piping and pull the piping from the well to clean the ejector. Aside from the time and expense involved in performing this operation, the disturbance to the pumping system often causes additional foreign material to be dislodged from the system so that upon reinstallation and commencement of the pumping operation the ejector is again quickly clogged.

Alternatively, high-pressure airhoses are connected to the intake line of the well in an attempt to blow any obstructing particles loose from the ejector. This has necessitated relatively'high-pressure air systems operating at, for example, approximately'l20 pounds per square inch and, as in other attempts to clear a blocked ejector, disconnecting the lines to connect the airhose to the intake pipe often results in the dislodgement of foreign particles which, subsequent to the cleaning operation, may lodge in the system and necessitate additional cleaning operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A three way valve is positioned in the pressure line of a jet type pumping system so that if the ejector in the system becomes clogged with foreign material the pump may be shut down and the valve in the pressure line repositioned to close the pressure line from the pump to the valve and open the pressure line from the valve to the ejector. With the valve thus positioned, pressurein the storage tank will cause a reverse flow of water from the tank through the pump, the intake line, the ejector, the portion of the pressure line from the ejector to the valve, and out the valve to open discharge under ambient conditions.

As a result it is unnecessary to either pull the piping from the ground to clean the ejector or utilize high pressure air lines in an attempt to blow the ejector clear.

Additionally, since backflushing of the system requires only the opening of the single valve, and therefore does not disturb the piping installation, the probability of foreign materials becoming dislodged and subsequently obstructing the ejector is substantially eliminated.

It should also be noted that liquid appears to perform more efficiently than air as a backflushing fluid so that the pressure necessary for backflushing the system using the liquid in the storage tank, is appreciably less than that usually necessary when using air or the like to purge the lines. As a result, usual storage tank pressures of from to 60 pounds per square inch, approximately, perform satisfactorily, as opposed to the l20 pounds per square inch air pressure generally needed when attempting to clear the ejector by means of compressed air.

It will also be seen that because the system according to the present invention utilizes the liquid stored in the system storage tank at normal pressures it is unnecessary to provide elaborate auxiliary equipment and instead, it is only necessary to utilize a relatively inexpensive valve. This offers the added advantage that existing jet pump systems may be easily modified to the form of the present invention.

The present invention also provides a three-way valve construction that can be relatively easily installed in a pressure line without threading the pipe sections to be received in the valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an illustration of a jet pump system constructed in accordance with the present invention with portions broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a valve finding use in the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG. 1 it will be seen that a jet pump system according to the present invention includes a pump 10 driven by an electric motor 11 or the like and communicating on its discharge side with a storage tank 12. A pressure regulator 13 is associated with the pump and motor to cause the pump to automatically commence operation when thepressure in tank 12 falls below a certain predetermined value and to continue to operate until pressure in the tank 12 hasbuilt up above a second predetermined value, all in a manner well known in the art.

At its intake side the pump 10 is in communication with an intake pipe 14, which extends from the intake side of the pump to an ejector 15 mounted in a well 16 and connected to a foot valve 17 by means of a length of conduit 18. Actuation of the pump 10 causes water to be drawn up through the foot valve and conduit 18, thence through the ejector l5 and intake line 14 to the pump 10, from whence it is discharged into the tank 12. A portion of the liquid withdrawn from the well 16 through the intake line 14, however, is bled off and returned through a pressure line 20 to a jet nozzle 21 communicating with the intake side of the intake line 14 by means of a venturi 22. In this manner the pressure in the intake line 14 is boosted to give higher operating pressures in the system.

As noted above, however, loose sediment, salts, or rust in the system may become clogged in the ejector and not only render the ejector inoperative but completely obstruct the pump itself. In the usual jet pump installation this necessitates either pulling the line to manually free the ejector or the use of a high pressure air line to blow the ejector clear. Aside from the time and expense involved, either attempt may also result in the dislodgement of foreign materials which may then obstruct the ejector upon restarting of the pump.

In a jet pump system according to the present invention, however, a valve 30 is mounted in the pressure line 20 at an easily accessible spot, i.e., adjacent the pump itself. Then, if the venturi in the ejector 15 becomes clogged the pressure line from the valve to the pump is closed and the remainder of the system opened to ambience. Since the tank 12 will contain, under pressure, the fluid previously pumped from the well, venting the pressure line by means of the valve 30 permits fluid in the tank to flow from the tank through the pump 10, the intake line 14, the ejector 15, that portion of the pressure line 20 from the ejector to the valve 30 and thence, in open discharge from the valve 30. This backflushing action will tend to rinse any particles lodged in the venturi of the ejector from the system, without removing the line from the well, using elaborate equipment, or disturbing the system to thereby cause additional foreign material to be dislodged.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a form of the valve 30 which finds particular advantage in the present system is shown in more detail. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 the valve 30 includes a body portion 31 having means defining a continuous passage 32 extending completely therethrough. A second passage 33 is formed in the valve body 31, intersecting the passage 32 at right angles thereto. A valve stem 34 having openings 35 and 36 therethrough corresponding to the openings 32 and 33, respectively, is positioned in a bore 37 in the body 31. At its lower end stem 34 is provided with a projecting stud 38 extending through the bottom of the valve body and secured therein by means of a nut 39, while at its opposite end a handle 40 is provided for convenient engagement by a wrench or other suitable tool.

To facilitate installation of the valve 30 in the pressure line, the passage 32 is counterbored, adjacent each end as at 41, to an internal dimension slightly greater than the external dimension of the opposing ends of the pressure line to be received therein. Passage 32 is further relieved adjacent its ends, as at 42, to accommodate a resilient bushing 43 of neoprene or the like which seats snugly on the shoulder formed by the relieved portion 42. Nut members 44 having internal threads 45 are threaded onto complementary threads 46 formed on opposite ends of the valve body 31 adjacent the ends of the passage 32. Each nut 44 has an inwardly projecting flange 47 which engages the outer end of a bushing 43 and compresses it axially thereof to cause a radial expansion of the bushing, forming a seal between the internal surface of the relieved portion 42 and the opposing external surface of the pressure line 20.

With the valve of the present invention, therefore, when a jet pump system is installed or modified in accordance with the present invention it is unnecessary to thread the opposite portions of the pressure line 20 at the point where the valve is installed and provide external coupling members for joining the threaded ends of the pressure line and the adjacent ends of the valves. It is merely necessary to provide a break in the pressure line, slip the valve member over opposite ends at the break and tighten up the nut members 44 to provide a tight joint between the pressure line and the valve.

From the above it will be apparent that the present invention provides means for expeditiously cleaning pump systems of the jet type without elaborate equipment or the necessity of removing the pipe system from the well.

While the method herein described, and the form of apparatus for carrying this method into effect, constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise method and form of apparatus, and that changes may be made in either without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A jet pump system comprising:

a. a storage tank for storing fluid under pressure,

b. a pump having an intake side and a discharge side communicating with said tank for discharging liquid into said tank,

c. an intake line having a pump end and an ejector end,

d. means interconnecting said pump end of said intake line to said intake side of said pump,

e. an ejector mounted on said ejector end of said intake line,

f. a pressure line having an intake end and an ejector end,

g. means connecting said ejector end of said pressure line to said ejector and,

h. means for selectively venting said pressure line to ambience and preventing venting of said storage tank through said pressure line, while maintaining said discharge side of said pump in open communication with said storage tank and said intake side of said pump in communication with said intake line.

i. whereby fluid stored under pressure in said storage tank will flow through said pump, said intake line, said ejector, said pressure line and said selective venting means to backflus h said system and rinse from said ejector material lodged therein.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

a. said venting means comprises a valve mounted in said pressure line intermediate said intake and ejector ends thereof.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein:

a. said valve is a three-way valve.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said valve comprises:

a. a valve body member, b. means defining a first passage through said body member,

c. means defining a second passage intersecting said first passage, (1. portions of said pressure line being positioned in said first passage, e. resilient collar means received in said first passage and encircling said portions of said pressure line, and f. means compressing said collar means axially thereof to expand said collar means radially thereof into sealing engagement with opposing surfaces of said first passage and said portions of said pressure line. 5. The system of claim 4 further comprising: a. means defining an external thread on portions of said valve body adjacent opposite ends of said first passage, b. internally threaded nut members engaging said external threads, and 0. terminal portions of said nut members projecting inwardly thereof in engagement with said resilient collar means. 6. In a jet pump system including a storage tank, a pump connected to and discharging into said tank to accumulate fluid under pressure therein, an intake line connected to and leading from said pump and terminating in an ejector, a pressure line leading to said ejector, and means for directing a portion of the fluid pumped by said pump through said pressure line to said ejector, a method of backflushing said system while maintaining said pump connected to said tank and said intake line connected to said pump comprising:

a. deactivating said pump to discontinue discharge into said storage tank, b. closing said pressure line at a point intermediate said directing means and said ejector, and c. venting said pressure line to ambience at a point intermediate said ejector and said point of closing. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein: a. said steps of closing and venting said pressure line are performed simultaneously. 8. A jet pump system comprising: a. a pump having an intake side and a discharge side, b. a storage tank communicating with and receiving fluid from said discharge side of said pump, c. an intake line extending from said intake side of said pump and terminating in an ejector, d. a foot valve, e. a conduit interconnecting said ejector and said foot valve, f. a pressure line extending from said pump to said ejector, g. valve means mounted in said pressure line intermediate said pump and said ejector, h. said valve means being operable between a i. first position directing flow from said pump to said ejector, and ii. a second position preventing flow from said pump through said pressure line and directing flow from said storage tank through said intake line, said ejector, a portion of said pressure line and to ambience through said valve means. 

1. A jet pump system comprising: a. a storage tank for storing fluid under pressure, b. a pump having an intake side and a discharge side communicating with said tank for discharging liquid into said tank, c. an intake line having a pump end and an ejector end, d. means interconnecting said pump end of said intake line to said intake side of said pump, e. an ejector mounted on said ejector end of said intake line, f. a pressure line having an intake end and an ejector end, g. means connecting said ejector end of said pressure line to said ejector and, h. means for seleCtively venting said pressure line to ambience and preventing venting of said storage tank through said pressure line, while maintaining said discharge side of said pump in open communication with said storage tank and said intake side of said pump in communication with said intake line. i. whereby fluid stored under pressure in said storage tank will flow through said pump, said intake line, said ejector, said pressure line and said selective venting means to backflush said system and rinse from said ejector material lodged therein.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein: a. said venting means comprises a valve mounted in said pressure line intermediate said intake and ejector ends thereof.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein: a. said valve is a three-way valve.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein said valve comprises: a. a valve body member, b. means defining a first passage through said body member, c. means defining a second passage intersecting said first passage, d. portions of said pressure line being positioned in said first passage, e. resilient collar means received in said first passage and encircling said portions of said pressure line, and f. means compressing said collar means axially thereof to expand said collar means radially thereof into sealing engagement with opposing surfaces of said first passage and said portions of said pressure line.
 5. The system of claim 4 further comprising: a. means defining an external thread on portions of said valve body adjacent opposite ends of said first passage, b. internally threaded nut members engaging said external threads, and c. terminal portions of said nut members projecting inwardly thereof in engagement with said resilient collar means.
 6. In a jet pump system including a storage tank, a pump connected to and discharging into said tank to accumulate fluid under pressure therein, an intake line connected to and leading from said pump and terminating in an ejector, a pressure line leading to said ejector, and means for directing a portion of the fluid pumped by said pump through said pressure line to said ejector, a method of backflushing said system while maintaining said pump connected to said tank and said intake line connected to said pump comprising: a. deactivating said pump to discontinue discharge into said storage tank, b. closing said pressure line at a point intermediate said directing means and said ejector, and c. venting said pressure line to ambience at a point intermediate said ejector and said point of closing.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein: a. said steps of closing and venting said pressure line are performed simultaneously.
 8. A jet pump system comprising: a. a pump having an intake side and a discharge side, b. a storage tank communicating with and receiving fluid from said discharge side of said pump, c. an intake line extending from said intake side of said pump and terminating in an ejector, d. a foot valve, e. a conduit interconnecting said ejector and said foot valve, f. a pressure line extending from said pump to said ejector, g. valve means mounted in said pressure line intermediate said pump and said ejector, h. said valve means being operable between a i. first position directing flow from said pump to said ejector, and ii. a second position preventing flow from said pump through said pressure line and directing flow from said storage tank through said intake line, said ejector, a portion of said pressure line and to ambience through said valve means. 